New Disney+ Documentary Goes Behind the Scenes of Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian

27 days ago in "Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows"

Gallery / 31 Photos
Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Resort

See all 31

Posted: Thursday May 21, 2026 9:52am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney+ has set a premiere date for a new documentary taking you behind the scenes of Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. The Magic Behind Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows arrives on June 10, 2026.

Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Resort

What the Documentary Covers

Disney says the film offers a behind-the-scenes look at the artists and Walt Disney Imagineers whose craft and creativity shaped the Island Tower. Through their perspectives and storytelling, you'll get a rare look at how the project came to life.

The documentary celebrates the spirit of the South Pacific, highlighting the resort's tropical palms, lush vegetation, and terrace gardens. Those gardens pay direct homage to four island cultures: Bora Bora, Hawaii, Samoa, and Fiji.

Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Resort

Rather than a straightforward resort tour, the documentary puts the people behind the project front and center. You'll hear from the creatives who made decisions about the design, details, and cultural storytelling woven throughout the Island Tower.

How to Watch

The Magic Behind Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows premieres on Disney+ on June 10, 2026. A Disney+ subscription is required to stream.

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

easyrowrdw7 days ago

I just added them up lol I didn’t take into account the “size” of the seasons but it’s anywhere from 80-85% at the Polynesian. It’s 65-75% at AKL.

Disstevefan17 days ago

Its DVCs club, we just vacation in it. ;)

nickys7 days ago

I didn’t realise the points differential was that low. I assumed it was more like 60%.

easyrowrdw7 days ago

I think the idea of a duo is fine but the point savings is insufficient. A value studio at AKL is about 70% of a standard. At the Poly tower a duo is more than 80% of a standard. You’re paying more for less.

HauntedPirate7 days ago

It's a word I use sparingly and only when I feel it's deserved. Similar to you, I don't despise spinners even though I won't and can't ride them. But these duo rooms? I indeed despise the very concept of them. When you look at the current $220+/point cost plus maintenance fees, why would anyone want to spend even 12 points per night on a room smaller than what you can get 2 miles down the road (in the case of Riviera)? Is the Skyliner access worth it? Some surely think so, but they are essentially very, very expensive and small hotel rooms, and that defies any sort of logic for me. $33,000 ($220/point times 150 points for the initial outlay) can pay for a lot of nearby hotel rooms for years.

nickys7 days ago

They’re smaller than a regular room. And if you just do the parks and don’t spend much time in the room, why not save your points? Despise seems a strong emotion for something you don’t want. I don’t despise coasters just because I don’t ride them.

Disstevefan17 days ago

Well, like 45 percent of the visitors to WDW are Disney adults so…..

HauntedPirate7 days ago

"refrigerator" aka. beverage cooler? Personally, I despise the very concept of them. If I wanted a regular-sized hotel room, I'd book one. Off-site, of course. Unless you're sitting on a thousand points or more, duo studios are a silly use of points. IMHO.

nickys7 days ago

The Duo studios were first done for Riviera. The idea is they’re for singles or couples who don’t need the bigger space and have a couch by day and bed by night. At a cheaper points cost.

Bocabear7 days ago

I looked and yes it was a Duo Studio....even the refrigerator was smaller than necessary... I would have rather had the Deluxe studio without the water f\view for the last night...for the same points, it would have been more comfortable. I will know better next time. I didn't hate the Duo... Just seems a little smaller than necessary. I really liked the 2 Br unit in the tower... Our home resort is BLT, and while I really like BLT, the units there looked really beat up when we stayed there last... It was nice to be in a unit that felt fresh and undamaged.

easyrowrdw7 days ago

I also wonder if you had the duo, if you only had a pulldown bed. This is the point chart for the Polynesian. I’d probably prefer to pay a few more points for a regular studio. Regardless, you might prefer the standard studios in the longhouses. They’re bigger and come with two bathrooms (1 toilet). Most of the standard views look out onto the grounds too, which is quite pleasant

Tuvalu7 days ago

You must have been in a duo studio. This was our studio.

Bocabear7 days ago

We stayed at the Island Tower last weekend... We had a 2 BR unit, and then the last day had to switch to a Studio.... So the largest and the smallest. I do not know what the points for a studio are but I hope they are a deal...because they are just winched down small enough to be almost uncomfortable... The fold down bed is certainly a HUGE downgrade from their normal Queen bed in the 2 Br unit. It is a novel idea, but after being in the 2 BR for a couple of days it felt more cramped than necessary... Again, if it was a real deal to stay there, then that would forgive some of that...but I fear it is probably not...